Toy



v Dec. 26, 1939. M. P. EXLINE TOY Filed July 30, 1938 Marcus Ex/fne Patented Dec. 26, 1939 TOY Marcus P. Exline, Dallas, Tex., assignor of one-- half to Thomas L. Jaggars and one-half to Katharine Morgan Exline, both of Dallas, Tex.

Application July 30, 1938, Serial No. 222,132

10 Claims.

This invention relates to new and useful improvements in toys.

One object of the invention is to provide an improved toy in the form of a doll which is inexpensive in manufacture and which is particularly attractive and entertaining tochildren. An important object of the invention is to provide an improved toy wherein the head and face of a figure is constructed of a resilient or elastic material, capable of distortion in all 'directions; such distortion of the head and face resulting in a distortion of the features to change the facial expressions, which expressions are both entertaining and humorous to the observer.

toy having a head and face of a figure which is constructed of a yieldable material, and also having an operating element or elements embedded within the head, said element having one end firmly attached to the material of which the head is constructed with the remainder free from connection with the head, whereby when a pull is exerted, or a movement is imparted, to the element, the yieldable material of which the head is constructed is distorted to change the facial expressions.

Still another object of the invention is to form a face of yieldable material and mount the same on a rigid base, with a rigid rod or element attached to the upper portion of the'face and movable in all directions with relation to the base, whereby the face may be distorted in all directions by manipulating the rod.

A construction'designed to carry out the invention will be hereinafter described, together with other features of the invention.

The invention will be more readily understood from a reading of the following specification and by reference to theaccompanying drawing, in which an example of the invention is shown, and wherein:

Figure 1 is an elevation of a toy, constructed in accordance with the invention, and having portions thereof broken away to more clearly illustrate the device,

Another object of the invention is to provide a Figure 2 is a vertical, sectional View, taken ,or otherwise shaped to form a head and face;

The facial features are so formed that when the body is in a normal or undistorted position, said features are in their proper relationship to each other. The size of the head, as well as the normal expression on the face, is, ,of course, subject to variation.

The lower end of the body or head is flared outwardly and is glued, orotherwise affixed to a base plate it which may be constructed of wood or other suitable rigid material. The base plate has an elongate slot l2 at its central portion and this slot extends longitudinally of the plate as is clearly shown in Figure 3. A relatively short slot l3 extends transversely from the slot i2. A rigid wire or rod M projects vertically through the intersection of the slots l2 and l3 and has its upper end extending through a vertical opening l5 provided centrally in the head. The upper end of the rod is bent upon itself to form lateral loops in which are embedded within the yieldable material of which the head is constructed.

The lower end of the rod I idepends downwardly below the base plate ll and may be formedwith a hook l I to facilitate manipulation of the rod with one hand. A supporting standard or handle ll has its upper end fastened to the underside of the plate and is of sufficient length to permit the operator to grasp the same. A skirt !8, or other covering, has its upper end attached to the base plate and encircles the handle Hand lower end of the operating bar M to hide these parts from view. Manifestly, the skirt is not essential as it is merely employed to enhance the appearance of the toy.

The head and face may be readily supported by grasping the handle I? with one hand. The other hand is thus free tomanipulate the operating rod It. By moving this rod through the slots I2 and I3 and also by rotating the rod, the Y yieldable material of which the body is con-.

structed is distorted, with a resultant distortion of the facial features. Thus, many different facial expressions may be produced and such expressions are both humorous and entertaining.

In Figure 4, the rod M has been shown as moved to one side of the slot I2 and also as pulled downwardly. This has caused the body to be distorted so that the top of the head has been moved closer to the base plate. Also, the swinging of the rod has mashed one side of the face and this distortion has affected the other side of the face, whereby the entire expression on the face has been changed. Manifestly, the rod may be swung within the slots, as well as rotated therein, and may also be raised to stretch the face. If desired, the slot I3 may be extended to the opposite side of the slot I2 which would permit a substantially universal movement in all directions. Further, in place of the slots a single, large circular opening could be provided.

In Figure 5, a slightly modified form of the invention is shown. In this form, two operating rods M are provided, one on each side of the face. These rods are secured within the head or body I in the same manner as described, and both rods extend through an elongate slot l2 in the base plate II. The transverse width of the slot I2 is greater than the diameter of the rods, whereby a lateral movement of the rods transversely of said slots is possible. The rods It in Figure 5 are also movable vertically, as well as being rotatable.

In Figure 6, still another modification of the invention is shown. This form is similar to the form shown in Figure 1 except that the base plate II is omitted and an elongate sleeve 26 supports the head In. The upper end of the sleeve is enlarged and ball-shaped to receive the lower end of the head which is shaped to fit therein. The lower end of the sleeve extends downwardly around the rod Hi and its bore has a greater diameter than saidrod, whereby lateral movement of the rod is permitted. In manipulating this form to distort the facial features, the sleeve 28 is grasped in one hand and the rod l4 grasped in the other hand. The rod may, if desired, be provided with a loop 2| at its lower end.

The foregoing description of the invention is explanatory thereof and various changes in the size, shape and materials, as wellas in the details of the illustrated construction may be made, within the scope of the appended claims, without departing from the spirit of the invention.

What I claim and desire to secure by Letters Patent is:

l. A toy including, a solid body of flexible material shaped to conform to the contour of a face, and means having connection with the body for distorting the same so as to change the expression on the face.

2. A toy including, a solid body of flexible material shaped to conform to a head and having facial features on its outer surface, and means having connection with said body for distorting the same to distort the facial features thereon.

3. A toy including, a base, a yieldable body secured to the base and shaped to conform to a human head and also having facial features on its outer surface, and an operating element extending through the base and having one end embedded within the material of the body, said element being capable of a lateral movement with relation to the base, whereby the body is distorted upon movement of said element to distort the facial features.

4. A toy including, a base, a yieldable body secured to the base and shaped to conform to a human head and also having facial features on its outer surface, and a rigid operating rod extending through the base and having one end embedded within the material of the body, said rod being capable of a lateral movement with relation to the base, whereby the body is distorted upon movement of said rod to distort the facial features.

5. A toy including, a base, a yieldable body secured to the base and shaped to conform to a human head and also having facial features on its outer surface, said base being slotted, a rigid rod extending through the slot in said base and also extending upwardly through the body, and means for afiixing one end of the rod to the upper portion of the body, said rod being capable of manual manipulation so as to distort the body from its normal position, whereby the entire body as well as the facial features are distorted.

6. A toy including, a base, a yieldable body secured to the base and shaped to conform to a human head and also having facial features on its outer surface, and a pair of operating rods extending through the base and spaced from each other and each having one end embedded within the material of the body, the rods having independent movement whereby either or both may be utilized to distort the body and thereby distort the facial features on said body.

7. A toy including, an elongate supporting sleeve, a yieldable body affixed to the upper end of the sleeve shaped to conform to a human head and having facial features on its outer surface, and an operating rod extending through the sleeve and having a diameter less than the diameter of the bore of said sleeve to permit lateral movement of the rod therein, said rod having its upper end extending into the body and being affixed withinthe material of the body, its lower end projecting from the sleeve to permit manual manipulation thereof.

8. A toy including, a mass of resilient material shaped to conform to a head and having facial features on its outer surface, whereby the distortion of any portion of the mass results in a distortion of the remainder, and means having connection with said mass for distorting the same so as to change the expression of the facial features. 9. A toy including, a mass of resilient material shaped to conform to a head and having facial features on its outer surface, whereby the distortion of any portion of the mass results in a distortion of the remainder, and an operating element having its upper end embedded Within the resilient mass and having its lower end depending therefrom, whereby manual manipulation of the lower extended end produces a distortion of the mass to effect changes in the expression of the facial features.

10. A toy including, a body of sponge-like flexible material which is readily deformable and which is normally in a shape simulating a head and having facial features on its outer surface, and a substantially T-shaped operating element having its upper portion embedded within the sponge-like material and its lower end dependingtherefrom, whereby manual manipulation of the lower end of the element produces a distortion of the body to effect changes in the expression of the facial features.

MARCUS P. EXL 

